GARDENING VOTED TOP OF THE TREE AS THE FAVOURITE FAMILY PAST TIME

Research from Miracle-Gro, one of the leading garden care brands in the UK, shows that British children and families love for gardening, is at an alltime high. Millions of British children are learning to be ‘green fingered’, by getting stuck in with helping their parents pot plants, mow the lawn and grow vegetables.

A survey of 1,000 parents and 1,000 grandparents of children aged 5-12 found a growing movement to get their children to embrace outdoor activities and get away from the TV. As many as 60% of children are now growing vegetables, with one in six naming a sunflower as their children’s favourite plant. Watering the garden, planting bulbs, and potting plants were deemed the best garden activities to share with a youngster, while 21% enjoy filling up the bird bath.

Gardening Guru, Kate Turner, from MiracleGro, which commissioned the survey, said: “It’s amazing that so many youngsters are being inspired to take up such an important life skill. “Not only that but spending time with loved ones outdoors can be such a special experience that families can cherish for years. That’s why we’re working with Greenfingers - a national charity dedicated to supporting life-limited children and their families who spend time in hospices around the UK – to assist with a therapeutic garden within ‘The Nook’, a purpose-built children’s hospice in

“A survey of 1,000 parents and 1,000 grandparents of children aged 5-12 found a growing movement to get their children to embrace outdoor activities and get away from the TV”

Norfolk.”

The study also found 47% spent the various lockdowns teaching new things to the young people in their care. 64% of those polled hope their child or grandchild grows up to be green fingered. A further 43% believe gardening is beneficial to their youngster’s mental health. And eight in 10 want them to spend more time outdoors than inside watching TV.

Top reasons for this are that it’s better for their health (70%) and it helps them burn off excess energy (56%). But 57% think it’s important for kids to have an interest in nature, as they are the generation that’s going to have to ‘save the planet’. While 85%look forward to the bond that can develop by spending time in the garden with their children or grandchildren.

It also emerged half of respondents have spent more time gardening than in the pre-pandemic times, which has meant 30% of children have been outside more too, according to the OnePoll data. Almost 9 in 10 enjoy teaching their kids or grandchildren new things, with 70% having fond memories of learning new skills from their own parents or grandparents.

Getting kids interested from a young age can foster a love of gardening and the outdoors that can last a lifetime and the memories can also live on forever.

Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium All-Purpose Compost is available in Garden Centres and selected retailers nationwide.

KIDS:

1. Watering plants

2. Planting flowers/ bulbs

3. Potting plants

4. Growing vegetables

5. Weeding

6. Picking vegetables

7. Filling up the bird bath

8. Sweeping a path

9. Deadheading flowers

10. Mowing the lawn

11. Jet washing

12. Painting fences

13. Homing insects

14. Pruning hedges

15. Cutting back trees

16. Leaf blowing

17. Cleaning the pond

18. Digging trenches

19. Building a shed

20. Laying decking